Oak Moss Essential Oil: 5 Uses & Benefites

Oak moss essential oil is full of powerful healing capabilities, including prevention of sepsis as well as stress relief. Furthermore, its potent, pleasant scent leaves little to be desired. The smell of this oil can be described as earthy but intense, as well as calming yet uplifting, and mossy or woods-like. Imagine using an essential oil that smells like you’ve just walked into a forest! In fact, oak moss has commonly been used in many popular high-end fragrances. As the name might imply, this oil is extracted from the moss that grows on the branches of oak trees. The oil is extracted mainly in France, then distributed all over Europe and North America. Oak moss oil’s many health benefits can be attributed to its antiseptic, expectorant, restorative and demulcent properties. (1) To learn more about this oil, read the list below!

Oak Moss Essential Oil Benefits

1. Prevents Sepsis

It’s such a simple word, but sepsis is not to be taken lightly–it can quickly become lethal. What starts out as just a cut is suddenly not so trivial anymore. Protect yourself from sepsis and other infections with the power of oak moss oil. Indeed, oak moss essential oil has strong antiseptic properties that can prevent cuts and wounds from developing sepsis and other dangerous infections.

The truth is, sepsis can arise from more than just cuts. Sepsis can affect external wounds as well as internal organs such as the kidneys, colon and the urinary tract. It can also arise in the food pipe and inner ears. Symptoms may include convulsions, swelling, stiffness in the muscles and joints, cramps and even death in severe cases. Oak moss essential oil, however, works as a natural antiseptic to protect the body from sepsis by creating conditions in the body where bacteria cannot thrive. (2)

2. Acts as a Demulcent

Oak moss essential oil has demulcent, or soothing properties. That means it can help heal inflammation and irritation by calming and soothing the skin. When it comes to this process of soothing the, oak moss oil is a powerhouse. Using it topically for scratches and other wounds will help maintain the oil and moisture balance in the skin while fighting redness and swelling.

Do you suffer from digestive distress? Try oak moss essential oil!

Indeed, oak moss oil can help with tummy troubles. This is again due to its demulcent properties. Whether it’s a sensitivity to spicy foods or just stomach issues in general, many people suffer from some sort of digestive distress. Oak moss oil has soothing effects on the digestive system that can help reduce inflammation and irritations in the esophagus, stomach and intestines caused by spicy food or acidity.

3. Clears the Respiratory Tract

If you suffer from allergies, asthma, or frequent colds, you know how hard it can be to deal with excess phlegm. It can make it a chore to breath, especially a night, which in turn can affect the quality of your sleep. However, many essential oils, including oak moss, can help address this problem. And the good news is that unlike other expectorants you can buy at a drug store, oak moss oil won’t leave you feeling drowsy. It may, however, help you to feel more relaxed, all while helping to clear up your lungs.

The natural expectorant properties of oak moss essential oil work to clear the respiratory tract by loosening phlegm and preventing it from accumulating in the throat and lungs. The oil provides relief from asthma, coughing, breathing troubles and congestion in the chest. It works by pulling out phlegm and reducing inflammation to open up the airways and promote easier breathing. (3)

4. Restores Health

Your cold symptoms are gone, but why do you still feel so tired? After you’re on the mend from being sick, you may notice that it can take a while to feel completely like yourself again. Your symptoms may have largely disappeared, but you still feel like you’ve been hit by a truck. This is another area in which this oil can help.

Oak moss essential oil has natural restorative properties that can bring the body back to complete health, especially after struggling with an illness. It works by diminishing the damage done by illness as well as aging, to reduce the wear and tear on the body. Oak moss essential oil gives the immune system a boost to speed healing and restore the body back to its healthy state.

5. Reduces Stress

Let’s face it: stress is a part of life. It’s innately not a bad thing, in fact, the opposite is true. Stress is designed to keep you alive. It alerts you of danger and coerces you into making a decision. But if you don’t manage symptoms of stress, it can start to affect your well-being. It will spill over into other areas of your life, including your physical health, relationships, and career. There are numerous ways, however, in which you can cope with stress. One of those ways is aromatherapy with essential oils like oak moss.

Oak moss essential oil can help naturally provide relief from stress, anxiety and depression and even insomnia. The oil’s soothing properties work to create a tranquil environment by calming the mind, relaxing the body and reducing inflammation. Oak moss oil’s natural ability to soothe the body and mind make it an anti-stress and anti-depressant essential oil. (4)

Caution: While there are a number of benefits to consider when it comes to this oil, there are also side effects you need to keep in mind. For example, oak moss essential oil may cause irritation on the skin or in the mucous membrane for some people. As mentioned above, it has been commonly used in high-end perfumes, but has since been banned due to allergic reactions. However, some companies continue to use it by removing the molecule that causes these allergic reactions. Pregnant women and people who suffer from nervous or neurotic disorders, such as epilepsy or hysteria, should avoid using oak moss essential oil. Furthermore, this oil can worsen kidney issues, so those who have problems with their kidneys should also avoid use of this oil.

Lindsey Shaffer is a writer and editor for DavidWolfe.com and holds a B.A. in Professional Writing and Editing. She is a health and fitness enthusiast and a world traveler with a love of coffee and a passion for adventure.